This painting reflects Alec DeMarco’s exploration of Indigenous Mesoamerican history, mythology, and visual traditions, inspired by his time living and working in the Yucatán region of Mexico. During this period, DeMarco developed a deep interest in Maya civilization, immersing himself in its cultural heritage while researching the devastating consequences of Spanish colonization and the destruction of Indigenous knowledge and traditions.

An important influence on the work was the Codex Borgia, a remarkable pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican manuscript celebrated for its intricate imagery, symbolic complexity, and representations of ritual and cosmology. Although its precise cultural origins remain debated, the codex preserves an extraordinary visual language that fascinated DeMarco and became a significant source of inspiration for his artistic exploration.

Living in the Yucatán allowed the artist to encounter the richness of Maya culture firsthand, developing an appreciation for its history, traditions, and enduring presence. These experiences encouraged him to explore the relationship between ancient visual systems and his own contemporary approach to abstraction, incorporating historical references into an increasingly personal artistic vocabulary.

The resulting painting brings together imagery inspired by the Codex Borgia and the impressions DeMarco gathered during his time in Mexico. Rather than attempting a literal reproduction of historical symbols, he reinterprets their visual qualities through his own expressive language. The work becomes a dialogue between past and present, reflecting the artist’s fascination with cultural memory, the survival of Indigenous traditions, and the ways historical imagery can continue to inspire contemporary artistic expression.